5 Year Plan

For the next five years, Camp Imadene will focus on enhancing and modernizing our primary site programs and facilities to ensure ongoing effectiveness in fulfilling our mission and purpose.

Overview

Since our relocation to the Mesachie Lake site 32 years ago from Maple Bay, our programs have expanded by 102%, and our staff team has experienced significant growth. Despite this, our facilities and programs have undergone limited upgrades to accommodate this expansion efficiently.

While the camp staff has devised creative solutions to manage this growth, the ability to provide quality services, maintain our equipment, and administer programs effectively is hindered by aging buildings, restricted office space, and equipment nearing or past its useful lifespan.

Our primary objectives over the next five years involve comprehensive upgrades to camper facilities, the maintenance department, administration spaces, and staff accommodations. Simultaneously, we are committed to refining our summer programs and activities, with a steadfast focus on introducing individuals of all ages to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Our Program Focus

Camp Imadene delivers a well-established program that promotes its purpose and mission statement. We are known to be a top producer of quality Christian camping in BC. Our stellar reputation for producing exceptional staff and programs has proven effective in promoting the Christian faith.

Finding the delicate equilibrium between effective ministry and financial sustainability is paramount for Camp Imadene's continued relevance. The camp's fundamental purpose is to introduce individuals to Jesus Christ through regular Bible teaching and to demonstrate Christian love within the community. Emphasizing a philosophy of summer camp ministry grounded in relationship-building, the camp prides itself on fostering a sense of family and unity, integral to Camp Imadene's identity. The intimate atmosphere allows campers and staff to connect on a personal level, creating a genuine, close-knit community that authentically presents the gospel.

This strategic approach ensures flexibility for current programs, optimal property use, and the capacity for future generations to adapt to an ever-changing world.

Goals for the program:

Deliver impactful summer and off-season programs that introduce children, teens, and adults to the teachings of Jesus Christ. We will keep our Biblical focus.
Enhance and sustain initiatives supporting the spiritual development of both campers and staff.
Explore and implement post-camp programs that establish lasting connections between campers and faith communities.
Maintain a commitment to reaching full capacity each summer, striving to consistently occupy the current camper accommodations of 192 weekly beds (16 cabins), with no plans to exceed this limit in the foreseeable future.
Invest in upgrading facilities, operational equipment, and activities to ensure effective support and management of our current and anticipated participant load.
Strategically plan and build to accommodate a combined total of 400 staff and campers.
Expand and refine existing off-season camp retreats while actively seeking opportunities for innovative new off-season programs.
Consider the development of Imadene West to incorporate more permanent facilities for our training programs, focusing on versatile use for both summer and off-season activities.

Program Project Highlights

The camp continuously seeks activities and programs that promote team and relationship building. Over the next five years, the camp will continue looking for small and large-scale activities to add to its programs. Listed below are three highlights for the upcoming 2026 year:

Gymnasium/Chapel Upgrades = $86,000
- The Gymnasium Renovation will transform this key building into a safer, more comfortable, and fully year-round space for Camp Imadene’s programs and ministry. The work combines a significant upgrade to the Main Gym—adding insulation, improved ventilation and air circulation, heating, and expanded stage function.
- The Lobby, currently the program room, will be converted into a warm, fireside-style gathering room.
- Exterior landscaping and new pathways on the north end will finish the project by improving access and creating a more welcoming entrance.
- Together, these upgrades will enhance comfort, safety, and appearance, making the Gym a versatile, all-season facility for campers, families, and retreat groups.
Cabin Electrical Upgrades - $18,500
- We’re excited to upgrade the electrical service to all 10 of our wooden cabins. Right now, up to three cabins share a single 15-amp breaker, which can’t reliably support heaters during cooler months.
- This project will provide each cabin with its own electrical panel and sufficient capacity to safely run a heater in spring/fall or an air conditioner in summer, improving comfort and usability throughout the season.
Cottonwood Lodge - Staff Accommodation - Upgrades = $52,200
- Cottonwood Lodge is a triple-wide trailer that has long served as summer staff housing, but in recent years, it’s become clear that major renovations are needed to keep this space usable.
- We’ve already gutted the building down to the solid framing, and the rebuild will include improved insulation, new drywall, flooring, and updated washroom fixtures. The front half will be converted into an apartment, while the back half will provide five rooms for volunteer or summer staff accommodations.

See the COMPLETE LIST of 2026 projects.

Our Staffing Focus

Ensuring Camp Imadene achieves its purpose and mission statement requires many committed staff and volunteers. These include:

Year-Round Paid
Summer Staff Paid
Summer Volunteers
Off-Season Volunteers

Year-Round Paid

This dedicated team provides the foundation for the camp programs to be successful, and they oversee and facilitate the following camp departments:

Executive
Administration
Food Services
Guest Services
Programs
- Spiritual
- Physical
Facilities

Each department works together to achieve the goal of introducing people to Christ, and staff often accept multiple responsibilities. Non-profits need to focus their resources, so it is essential to find staff willing and able to receive a broad job description. As a seasonal organization, staff must adapt their responsibilities to remain productive year-round.

Paid Summer Staff

The key benefits of summer-long staff members are:

Consistency with our Biblical message and the quality of our programs.
Reliability in filling key positions each week of the summer.
Accountability - Each summer staff member is responsible for performing their duties.
Training - All summer staff receive training before the summer and throughout the season.
Community - Over the course of the summer, staff support each other like family.
Spiritual Development - The summer staff are challenged to grow in their faith throughout the season.
Financial Support - Summer staff receive compensation, which allows them to continue their post-secondary education while serving the Lord in a solid faith community.

Volunteers

Volunteers play a significant role in supporting the summer ministry, and we use people’s various giftings to enhance each week of the summer.

Several vital positions that volunteers can excel in during the summer are:

Speakers
Nurses
Kitchen Helpers
Support Staff
Weekly Cabin Leader

The off-season presents many opportunities for volunteers to use their skills to help the camp move forward and be maintained.

Our Facilities and Operations Focus

Camp Imadene has owned the Main Site on Mesachie Lake since 1984 and has operated summer camps there since 1992.

When the property was first purchased, three buildings remained from the Hillcrest lumber mill: the workshop, the duplex (former mill office), and the dry shed. Camp Imadene continues to use each of these buildings in its original location. The camp has constructed all other buildings and infrastructure.

In 2026, Camp Imadene will mark 35 summers of ministry at the Mesachie Lake site. The most recent permanent new building, Willow Lodge, was constructed in 1994, 33 years ago. While camp capacity has more than doubled since 1992, only a few additions and temporary structures have been made to support this growth.

Because of this, the camp has identified five operational areas that require attention:

1. Maintenance and Operations

We plan to relocate the maintenance area to the back of the property, away from camper activity and accommodations.
To care well for our buildings and equipment, we need a workspace that supports multiple trades and a variety of repair and construction needs. The current workshop is inefficient for today’s demands, so we intend to build a new, purpose-designed maintenance facility to support the year-round work required effectively.
As a seasonal camp, we also rely on specialized equipment that must be appropriately stored during the off-season. For example, ski boats require dedicated, protected storage to prevent deterioration when not in use. The new maintenance area will include secure, appropriate storage to keep camp equipment in good condition throughout the year.

2. Administration

As the camp has expanded, our administrative needs have grown as well. When we first moved to Mesachie Lake, the staff team was small, and a modest administration space was sufficient. Today, however, we have outgrown this space—three to four people often share a single workstation, and lodge space is being used for department offices.
The new Administration Office will be larger and more accessible for guests arriving at camp.

3. Staff Accommodations

We need seasonal on-site accommodation for married and mature staff and volunteers. Summer camp work involves long days and high responsibility—several staff members commute daily from locations more than 30 minutes away. Providing on-site housing for the summer—and for times when staff must host guest groups—will help staff maintain healthy family life while carrying out their roles effectively.

4. Camper Facilities

Our current dining area does not accommodate all campers at once. Some campers eat indoors while others eat outdoors due to limited space. We plan to address this by building a larger dining area. As we move forward with our five-year plan, we will determine the best design and location for this expansion.
Camper washroom facilities also need upgrading. We plan to upgrade our existing washroom block and explore the construction of an additional washroom facility.

5. Septic

A septic assessment has been completed, and we are glad to hear that our current system is operating well and handling our current load.
However, before any new permanent buildings requiring washroom facilities are constructed, our septic system will need to be updated.

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